Friday, February 28, 2014

The start of a new month means a new Blog Hop from DigiScrapAddicts! The theme this month is called "SHADES OF PLAY," and I've created a complete collection that's in my stores. I also have TWO FREEBIES for you so be sure you scroll all the way through this post!

First, take a look at my complete SHADES OF PLAY Collection:

This would be perfect for your "little artist!" It's available at all of my stores:

Thursday, February 27, 2014

So happy to have you following along in our Study. I found last week's layouts to be more challenging that I expected. I ended up doing more of a "tribute" layout to Jesus. This is what I came up with:

After the class discussion on this section, I spent the rest of
the day analyzing everyone in my family as to how they fit into the
"Winnie The Pooh" School of Personalities. *wink* You know, Kay Warren didn't include
Piglet. Isn't Piglet the one who worries, worries, worries ALL the time? I
think that he should have been included too!

Anyway - If you want to try your hand at some Winnie the Pooh
Personality quizzes, here are a couple for you... Although I can't verify how
"scientific" they are, Quiz 2 was the only one that pegged me as a Rabbit (which
I totally am!)

Session 5 addresses the difference
between "happiness" (which is fleeting & temporary) and "joy" (which is the
settled assurance that God is always in control of everything, all of the
time).

Psalm 46:10 reminds us to "Be still and know I am
God." This knowledge should (hopefully!) allow us to remember
that...

God is faithful...

All the time...

Every day...

In every circumstance...

No matter what...

God. Is. Faithful.

We are reminded NOT to put our faith in false
sources of joy. People, places, our possessions, our career position,
or our specific personality type are not meant to be the source of our joy.
Sure they can bring us happiness at times - but it is not their
responsibility to bring this sense of deep-rooted and peaceful joy that
lasts.

Finally, Kay Warren talked about "broken wells" - how
so often we try to depend on happenings or circumstances for our joy. But God
will not bless your efforts to dig your own broken well. He will always be
there with HIS well -- which never runs dry. He will always be wanting you to
turn to Him to fill your well.

Between all of that, you should have lots of good ideas for
your layouts.

If you are all caught up, by next Wednesday, you will
have

1. Read up through page 135.

2. Completed a total of 9 layouts (1 for your cover, 2 for
"joy is a choice," 2 for "living out loud," 2 for "joy in Jesus" and 2 for
"finding joy in the wrong places")

I would LOVE to see your layouts! I have a Gallery Showcase Group on Facebook where scrappy friends are sharing their Bible Study layouts. I hope you'll join!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Hey Scrappers!I hope you had a chance to really dig in to your life experiences as well as Scripture last week for your layouts. It was a heavier bit of material, indeed, but in breaking us down, God has a chance to mold us and build us up to something even better, stronger, and more amazing. I saw this quote last week that I thought was applicable:

He yearns for us to look to HIM for comfort, support, knowledge, advice, wisdom, and solace. He is eager to use us to demonstrate his love and power.

For my layouts this week, I chose to chronicle our sons' birth defects of bilateral club feet. When both Jack and Luke were born, their little feet were all turn in like little flippers!

(Jack's Feet)

(Luke's Feet)

When you've got a Dad who LOVES sports and a Mom who was a dancer in high school and college, it's hard to imagine how these little "crooked" feet could be healed. But God put so many things in place for us!! Googling bilateral club feet back in 2000 led us to a LOCAL couple who were blogging their story. They met with us and connected us with a skilled and experienced surgeon at Cincinnati Children's Hospital. They passed us a special bathtub that we would need to soak off the plaster casts. They showed us their own son's PERFECT piggies; after just a year of castings and a surgery, their son, Michael, had beautiful, working, "normal" feet!

The journey from crooked-to-straight feet is long and stressful. Casts every week for 5 months. Multiple "heal-cord releases" (which is a nice way of saying the surgeon slices through the Achilles tendon, stretches the ankle, and casts it. In babies, the two pieces of tendons grow back together, longer!). We worked with plaster and fiberglass casts as well as foot-braces. At 9 months, each boy had one LARGE surgery where the doctor cut through the tendons in the ankles, re-positioned the feet with pins, and casted the feet for 10 weeks. At the end of this process, we had perfect, STRAIGHT, wonderful, kissable feet! ♥

So, here are the layouts I came up with:

Kit is the Thunderstorm Collab from PickleberryPop. Song lyrics are from Casting Crowns' song, "Praise You In This Storm."

I love the final quote (spoken by our Pastor in a sermon just last weekend - how that for "coincidence?!") that you can NEVER give up on God redeeming your story because God takes the broken pieces and turns them into a beautiful mosaic.

I LOVE the way Proverbs is written in The Message version of the Bible. The plain-spokenness of it just cracks me up. Like these Proverbs, for example:

People ruin their lives by their own stupidity, so why does God always get blamed?

-Proverbs 19:3

Even dunces who keep quiet are thought to be wise; as long as they keep their mouths shut, they're smart. -Proverbs 17:28

and my personal favorite...

Having a fool for a child is misery; it's no fun being the parent of a dolt!

-Proverbs 17:21

As you work through this week's discussion points, think of Bible stories or verses that make you smile... or even laugh. Know that God is JOYFUL with even the smallest steps you take towards Him. Perhaps those baby-steps of faith are something you can scrap?

Remember...

Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

-James 1:12

A very talented lady named Louise Dusing is in my class, and she is a painter. She took on the challenge of painting "Happy Jesus," and I wanted to share her amazing painting with you..

PS - A few years ago, I taught another Scrapbooking Bible Study based on The "Fruit of The Spirit" and I chronicled our club feet journey for "Patience." You can read it on my Christian blog,Everyday Places.

Thursday, February 13, 2014

The LOVE NOTES FREEBIES continue with this set of fun and versatile JOURNAL CARDS! These are free exclusively on my Facebook Page:

This freebie has expired, but you can find it in my stores.

I hope you'll LIKE my page and stay awhile. And while you're there, join the MagsGraphics Gallery Group! Members to my FB Gallery share layouts, learn new techniques from other scrappers, and get exclusive discounts and freebies from me!

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

How are you doing on your layouts? I enjoyed making mine for Session 2 - I loved the "train track" idea; this is what I came up with:

Train tracks are from a kit called "Trains" by JenCD.

The rest of the kit is from a brand-new kit I have releasing on Saturday called "Fruit of the Spirit."

And it was pure luck that I dug up this photo of my husband looking through the toilet seat! *wink*

I love the idea of the parallel train tracks - that we are continually balancing between the joys and sorrows in our lives. During our class discussion today, one of the ladies brought up a really good point... that while we try not to be detoured by our sorrows, sometimes God uses these detours to refine us or teach us something. Another time to practice intentionally choosing joy... even when it's hard!

This week, Session 3 is a "heavier" week with some deep soul-searching for times in your life where your faith-life was forced out in the open. You may find that you certainly weren't focusing on JOY back then, but perhaps you can find the blessings in the mess now that you look back. One of the lessons from this week is that non-Christians ARE looking to you to see how you handle adversity, trials, pain, hardship, and loss. So even though you may be dealing with a trial, you have this amazing opportunity to serve as a representative of Christ. Bringing others into the flock of Christ IS a reason to feel joy!

You are reading p. 35-47 (if you are on a Kindle or Nook where the page numbers are all different, you are reading Chapter 2: "Showing Our True Colors").

I hope you'll join the MagsGraphics Gallery Group on Facebook and show off your layouts! I love to see them, and you will undoubtedly get inspiration by the other layouts being displayed!

--> NOTE - I had originally mentioned that next week was an "off" week for our study, BUT that is no longer the case. We had a "Snow Day" here that cancelled classes last week so we are actually having class after all. That means, I'll post Session 4 next Thursday! See you then!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Hey Scrappy Friends!I hope you've had a great week and have been paying attention to ways you can choose JOY in the midst of aggravations. To get you started off this morning, quickly jot down THREE things that happened this week that zapped you of your joy. Did starting this study help you change your perspective and reach (at least a little bit!) towards joy? I hope so! :) Hopefully, you've completed your introduction layout/cover page. I did a page as part of the promotion for this class at my church that (for the time being) I'm going to use as my cover page (I have a idea that I may move it as an ending page, but I want to wait and see how all of my layouts turn out):

I wanted some family photos that made me smile - to remind me what "JOY" looks like - even if and when I'm not feeling it.

The kit used is by my fellow designer, Mandy King; it's called "The Little Things."

Based on your reading this week (p.19-34), you'll want to work through the questions and discussion points outlined in the .pdf. for Session 2.

When you read about the parallel train tracks, How do you see these duel tracks working in your life?

After reading the Momastery Article on Avoiding Detours, what detours do you find yourself getting trapped in again and again?

Your HOMEWORK this week is to construct TWO layouts that showcase what you've learned from this session as well as to read p. 35-47 for next week. Remember you can show off your layouts on my FB Page OR in the MagsGraphics Gallery Group (also on FB). I'd love to see them!

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Anyone have any THESPIANS or DRAMA QUEENS in the family? Last year I created this HUGE Collection called "In The Spotlight" that will be perfect to scrap those spring musical pictures, recital photos, or other dramatic moment. This week, you can find it 30% OFF at all of my stores!

Followers of MagsGraphics

MagsGraphics TOU

2. WHAT YOU MAKE with a MagsGraphics digital image isYOURS to do with what you want: Scrap For Hire, Scrap For Others, Scrap For Gifts, Completed Projects for Sale (i.e. teacher handouts, yearbook, invitations, cards).

DESIGNER RESOURCE/CU items may be recolored and used in your own digital scrap kits for sale.

3. Credits appreciated... not required. If possible, including the name "MagsGraphics" in your credits just makes my day. Even better is if you include a link to my store: http://bit.ly/magsgfx

NOTE:Some items on this blog are offered for PERSONAL USE only (and the specific post will reflect that) because that particular item was not 100% created by me, and I cannot claim sole copyright. Thanks for understanding!